Door-operating mechanism for drop-bottom cars.



PATENTED NOV. 271906.

B. H. SMITH. DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DROP BOTTOM CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.5.1906.

2 SHEETS-@EEET 1 lawzwtoz TAB WE /wows attuned No. 837,137. PATENTEDNOV. 27, 1906. B. H. SMITH. I

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DROP BOTTOM CARS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.5.1906.

2 SHEETS-33117 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BLANDON H. SMITH, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GILBERT L.ADAMS, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

' Application filed September 5, 1906. Serial No. 333,369.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BLANDON H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of 5 ment of adumping-hopper-bottom' car,-

Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDoor-Operating Mechanism for Drop-Bottom Cars, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to railway rollingstock, and particularly todumping-cars of the drop-bottom and hopper types.

To this end the invention contemplates a simple .and practicalconstruction of dooroperating mechanism for drop-bottom cars, providingpositive and reliable means for opening and closing the hopper-door andalso for securely fastening the same in its closed position. v

An important requirement of door-operating mechanism for drop-bottomcars is that of reliable, positive, and strong means for holding, thedoor securely locked and positively preventing the opening thereofthrough accidental causes, such as vibration of thecar-body while inmotion. To secure this necessary result is one of the important objectsof the present invention, and the construction designed possessesspecial utility in that connection. I

A further and general object of the invention is to provide an operatinmechanism embodying few parts, while at t e same time having a free andeasy operation'in opening and closing the hopper-door.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readilyappear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the sameconsists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and

T is designed to be arranged as an entirety cenclaimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in carrying out theforegoing objects are necessarily susceptible to structural changewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; but apreferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanyin drawings, inwhich igure 1 is a sectional elevation of a fragshowing the drop-doorequipped with the im proved door-operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is aprojected end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is adetail plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5, and 6are a series of plan, side, and end elevations showing the operativerelation between the camming-arm and the door-actuating link. Figs. .7,8, and 9 are similar detail views of the door-actuating link. Fig. 10 isan elevation and projected end view of the operating--shaft. Figs. 11,12, and 13 are a series of detail views of one of the camming-linksassociated with the door-actuating link. Fig. 14. is a detail elevationof the supplemental locking device, which may be associated with one endof the operating-shaft.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures ofthe drawings. i The improved operating mechanism contemplated by thepresent invention is specially designed for use in connection with thattype of cars termed drop-bottom cars, which include the class ofmodern-style cars termed hopper-bottom cars. In the application of'theinvention to cars of this type no change whatever is required in the carstructure nor in the relation of any of the usual parts thereof, so forillustrative purposes there is shown in the drawings a fragment of thebody portion 1 of a drop-bottom or hopper-bottom car provided with theusual discharging hopper or chute 2, the delivery-opening 'of which isdesigned to be covered and uncovered by the drop-door 3, hinged at itsupper edge, as at 4, in the usual manner, at the upper ed e of thedeliveryopening of the hopper or c llute.

'The improved door-operating mechanism associated with the car elementsreferred to the peculiar form and relation of these several elements,and, referring to the drawings, it will be observed that thedoor-actuatlng link 5 is provided with a main straight shank door 3 o?the car bottonn' portion 8, pivotally connected at one end, as at 9, tothe swinging portion of the drop- At'the end oppo- -site its pivotalconnection the main shank I guard-lug 12. In addition portion if thedoor-actuating link is formed with an obliquely-deflected head 10,formed at one side of'the angle between the same and the main shankportion with a laterallyofiset supporting-shoulder 11 and at onecornersaid shoulder with a projecting to this element thesaid head is providedin the wide end thereof-with a transversely-disposed arcuate play-slot.13, receiving therein the adjustingpin 14, carried by the free end ofthe curved camming-arm 6, mounted fast on the operating-shaft 7. Inorder to secure an effective action, a pair of the camming-arms 6 arepreferably employed," the same being arranged, respectively, uponopposite sides of the head 10,'and the operating-shaft 7, to

- which said arms are to the sides thereof.

I parts shown in Figs. 1 and 5 when; the drop-door is closed the lateralyoffset supporting-shoulder 11 of the door-acthereby plemental loc theshaft 7 in the direction merit a catch-notch 18in ga'gement withthewheel 15 through theme drum of a pivotal cam-button 17,mounted inthesideof-the car-body. I

As plainly indicated bythe position of of the drawin s,

tuating ever extends partially about and hangs directly upon theoperating-shaft, .eifectually bracing and supporting the door in itsclosed position. To open the door, it is simply necessary to releasethe'suping means 15 16 17.and turn theadjusting-pin '14 to the slot/13in the link-head, an in this movethe operating-shaft takes over theguard-lug 12.0f the link-head, andlthereby serves to 1 check the strainimposed onthe'doorrincident to the release thereof, thereby easing upthe j o ening of the door. and preventing such a sud as would .tend towrench, strain, or break the operating mechanism.

.1 Another feature of the inventionresidesin the employment of anauxiliary unlocking or release device which facilitates. the 'op'eni-ngI of the door and insures the safety of the olper- .ating mechanism whenmoved with a oad upon the car.

. lease-lever 19,

The auxiliary unlocking or release device essentially consists of arepivotally hung beneath the a suitable ivotal support or ed or bentabout hopper-floor by supports, as at.-20, and are usual operating-crankwhich will'carry,- u(pper end of the den opening jcatch notch ocainming-arm carried by the shaft and h'avthe plane of theoperating-shaft 7 as at 21 I so that the long arm of'the lever normallyextends at an inclination following that of the hop er bottom or floor.the liaver is formed at its free end with a handle portion 22, while theshort arm of the lever (designated by the number '23 and dis posed atthe opposite side of the pivotal point 20) is angularly bent so as toengage beneath the camming-arm 6. By reason of this constructicn andmounting of release-lever a slight pull upon the handle end 22 thereofwill cause the short en aging arm 23 to lift the camming-arm 6 angradually facilitate the opening of the door when the shaft 7 is turnedWithout undue strains or shocks;

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, action, andadvantages of the hereinrdescribed mechanism will be readily furtherdescription.

apparent without claim 1. In a dumping-car, the combination with thecar-body and the drop-door thereof, of the door-operating mechanlsmcomprising an operating-shaft, a swinging arm carried by said shaft, adoor-actuating linkpivotally connected at one end with the door and atits other end havinga sliding connection with the arm, said link beingfurther provided at an intermediate point with a supportingshoulderadapted to engage over the operating-shaft. v

2. In a dum in -car, the combination with a the car-body an thedrop-door thereof, of the dooroperating mechanism comprising anoperating-shaft having "a catch-notch, a, swinging arm carried by theshaft and a dooractuating link with the door andat 1138 other end havinga This long arm ofv I 00 I pivotally connected at one end slidingconnection with the free end of the am, said link being: furtherprovided at an intermediate oint'with a guard-lug ada ted to be engagedwith the catch-notch o the shaft during theturningof the latter.

3. In a dumping-car, the combination with the car-body and thedrop-doortherefor, and the door-operating mechanism comprising anoperating-shaft having a catch-notch there:

111, a door-actuatinglinkpivotally connected at one'end with the doorand. provided at its jothergendwith a head having an arcuate slottherein, saidlink being further provided at shoulder engaging over theshaft an with a guard lug ada" 'tedto be engaged by the theshaft, anda'swinging an mterm'ediate point with a supporting-y ing anadjusting-pin working in the slot of crating-shaft, a swinglng armcarried by the shaft, a door-actuating link pivotally connected at oneend with the door and at its other end having a sliding connection withthe free end of the arm, and an auxiliar release-lever pivotally hungbeneath the 0pper-floor and having a short engaging arm arranged toengage beneath said swinging arm.

BLANDON H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

GILBERT L. ADAMS, NORMAN E. GEE.

